COLUMBUS, Ga. - Muscogee County pays jurors $25 a day, and the Jury Manager's Office summons about 13,000 residents a year for trial and grand jury panels, according to the Columbus Consolidated Government. People who are summoned can be excused if they are 70 or older, are full-time college students or are the primary caregiver of a child 6 or younger with no other child care. The county's jury office can be reached at 706-225-4310.

The topic is in the news in Columbus because the new John D. Allen Judicial Center opened Nov. 2 and seated a jury in its first murder trial that day, according to WTVM. Anyone with a summons should check it for reporting instructions before the service date. Here is what the county and the state say about serving.

1. How you are chosen

Georgia courts randomly pick potential jurors from eligible local residents and mail a summons, according to Georgia.gov. You must appear in person on the date listed. If you are not selected for a jury, your obligation for that summons ends.

To serve you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 and able to understand and discuss a case in English, according to Georgia.gov. You also must live in the county that sent the summons and must not have served on a jury in the past 12 months. People convicted of a felony must have had their civil rights restored.

2. What it pays

Muscogee County pays jurors $25 per day, according to the city's jury page. Georgia.gov says pay ranges from $5 to $50 per day depending on the county, with most counties paying about $25. Jurors are paid for each day of service, including the day spent in selection.

3. Where you report

The city's jury page lists the reporting address as 2100 Comer Ave., second floor, the old Columbus Health Department building. The page says not to be late but does not list a specific check-in time. The new judicial center at 100 10th St. has jury assembly on its first floor, according to project information reported by CNAW News, so residents should follow the instructions printed on their summons.

4. Fill out the questionnaire

The county asks jurors to complete a juror questionnaire before the service date to speed up selection. A link is on the city's jury page. Some summonses also require advance contact with the court, according to Georgia.gov, so read the paper summons closely.

5. Who can be excused

The city lists three exemptions under Georgia law. People 70 or older can file an affidavit to have their name removed from the jury list, or call 706-225-4310 for an age certificate. Full-time postsecondary students can provide a class schedule to request an excuse or deferral, and a primary caregiver of a child 6 or younger with no alternative child care can sign an affidavit to be excused.

Georgia.gov says anyone seeking an exemption or excuse must contact the court before the appearance date. The city's page mentions deferment but does not explain how to ask for one, so the jury office phone number is the place to start. Anyone claiming an exemption should have the matching affidavit, class schedule or physician's form ready.

6. What to bring and wear

The city's page says to expect a metal detector and not to bring pocketknives, mace, pepper spray or weapons of any kind. It says the building can be cool, so a sweater or jacket helps even in warm months. The page also says jurors must wear a mask, which may be an older instruction, so check the summons for current rules.

7. Your job

Georgia.gov says Georgia employers must give employees time off to serve on a jury. The state says that leave may be unpaid. Workers may want to ask their employer about its own policy once the summons arrives.

8. If you ignore it

Georgia.gov says failing to respond to a summons may result in a fine or other penalties. The state's guidance is to contact the court that issued the summons if you cannot attend. A phone call to the Jury Manager's Office is the simplest way to resolve a conflict before the date.

9. Who to call

The Jury Manager's Office handles summonses, payroll, deferments, orientation and the oath for jurors, according to the city. Its number is 706-225-4310. The city's jury page is the source for the questionnaire link and the physician's form.